Work on the Dunard Centre has begun, and it will be like no other concert hall in the UK.
Designed by David Chipperfield Architects (DCA) and Nagata Acoustics, the venue has been designed to delight music lovers of all genres, with a timber-lined auditorium that will bring artists and audiences into close, thrilling contact.
Nagata are the acousticians responsible for some of the world’s best sounding spaces, from the Walt Disney Concert Hall in LA to the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, but the Dunard Centre will be their first British venue.
The scheme slots directly behind the Royal Bank of Scotland’s iconic St Andrew Square branch, right in the heart of Edinburgh’s New Town.
The ingenious design makes the most of its narrow plot, with room for 1,000 people, and a wrap-around concourse that will open up the long screened-off city block to the public.
The meticulously honed exterior of the Dunard Centre will harmonise with the sandstone buildings surrounding the site, and its concrete walls will also serve to extend the venue’s acoustic volume. The precast panels convert the hallways around the inner auditorium into a second, outer chamber, delivering a clear, rich sound for performers and concert goers alike.
From the stellar views to supportive seats, every design element in the venue will contribute to an exhilarating experience for audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
